North Dakota Golf Cart Laws (2025)

Generally no, unless they are registered as LSVs. North Dakota law only authorizes Low-Speed Vehicles on public roads, and those must meet specific standards. A regular golf cart (under 20 mph, lacking safety features) is not street-legal on state roads. Some individual cities might allow golf carts on their local streets via ordinance, but that’s a local exception. Statewide, only LSVs are recognized for street use.

Yes, to operate an LSV on public roads you need a valid driver’s license (same as for a car). North Dakota doesn’t explicitly state an age in the LSV law, but since LSVs are registered vehicles, the driver must be licensed (which in ND is 16 for a regular license). If a city allows golf carts locally, they also require licensed drivers. So under any scenario on public streets, a license is required.

Yes. North Dakota Century Code requires that any motor vehicle operated on public roads carry liability insurance. An LSV must be insured in order to be registered. Driving without insurance is illegal (ND is an absolute liability insurance state). Even if a city permits golf carts without state registration, the prudent approach is to have insurance coverage, and some cities mandate proof of insurance for local permits.

If it’s an LSV, yes, federal standards for LSVs include seat belts. North Dakota’s definition references federal safety standards, which means seat belts, windshield, mirrors, etc., are all required. A basic golf cart doesn’t have those, which is one reason it can’t be registered. So any street-legal LSV in ND will have seat belts for each seat.

North Dakota’s LSV definition caps the speed at 25 mph. So 25 mph is the maximum speed of a street-legal LSV (and many are governed not to exceed that). They’re only allowed on roads with speed limits of 35 mph or below. Traditional golf carts usually top out around 15 mph, but again, those aren’t allowed on public roads unless treated as LSVs.

At least 16 with a driver’s license. While ND law doesn’t carve out a special golf cart rule, to drive any vehicle on public streets you need to be licensed. ND issues learner’s permits at 14, but those require supervision, so practically you’d need a full license at 16 to legally drive an LSV solo on the road.

You can’t register a normal golf cart – it has to be an LSV from the manufacturer. To register an LSV in ND, you must have the Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin or title that identifies it as a Low-Speed Vehicle. You’ll submit that to the DOT, pay the title and registration fees, and obtain LSV license plates (North Dakota issues a two-year registration for LSVs). Note that ND will not register homemade or retrofitted carts as LSVs – it must be a purpose-built LSV.

It must meet ND’s Low-Speed Vehicle criteria: 4 wheels, able to go over 20 mph but not over 25 mph in 1 mile, under 3,000 lbs, and conforming to federal LSV safety standards (49 CFR 571.500). That means it needs headlights, tail/brake lights, turn signals, reflex reflectors, mirrors, windshield, parking brake, seat belts, and a 17-digit VIN, among other things (federal spec). Only vehicles that leave the factory as LSVs or are certified by the maker can be registered – ND does not consider retrofitted standard golf carts as eligible LSVs.